Machine for banding packages.



J. ALEMANY.

MACHINE FOR BANDING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1914.

1,151 %2. v Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

anmwlioz JOAQUIN ALa'Mm/r J. ALEMANY.

MACHINE FOB BANDING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1914. 1,151,429. Patented Aug. 24,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 mm wtoz Janet/m! 1440mm wwwwmz lWHW a? J. ALEMANY.

MACHINE FOR BANDING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1914.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. ALEMANY.

MACHINE FOR BANDING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1914.

Patented Au 24, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

avwemiioz Alf/WAN) TED strains Parana ennroa.

JOAQUIN ALEMANY, OF HABANA, CUBA, ASSIGNOR TO HAVANA COMMERCIAL COMPANY, OF HAZBANA, CUBA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR BANDING PACKAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2e, was.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOA UIN ALEMANY, a citizen of Cuba,-residing at Habana, Cuba, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Banding Packages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for attaching revenue stamps and other forms of labels on packages by an adhesive, and has for its object to provide a compact, automatic device which picks labels, one at a time from a stack of labels and drawing each label past an adhesive applying apparatus carries it across one end of a channel forming a part of the machine above a wrapping mechanism, whereupon packages, fed singly into the machine from a group of packages, are delivered into said channel ehind said label and in front of a plunger that reciprocates in the receiving end of said channel. On each advancing movement of the plunger it pushes a package before it against a label, causing the same to adhere to one side of said package. The movement of the package past the first folders of the folding mechanism causes them to turn projecting portions of the label against two opposite sides of the package and press said portions closely thereon to cause them to adhere. At the completion of the advance movement of the plunger and during a pause before it retreats, the second folders of the folding mechanism are carried across the fourth side of the. package to turn the terminal ends of said label thereover and press them into close contact therewith. The plunger then returns and the operation is repeated.

The package is retained in the channel where left by the plunger by friction de vices therein until pushed forward by the next labeled package, the number thus held being optional, the more advanced package being delivered from the channel as each stroke of the plunger forces a newly labeled package therein.

To more clearly understand the invention and obtain a thorough conception of the preferred embodiment thereof, attention is directed to the following detailed de scription and the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, partly in section as viewed in the direction of the arrow 1, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on'the line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section view on the line 66, Fig. 5. Figs. 7 to are sectional views of the receiving end 0 the channel with the plunger, folding mechanism and associated parts, illustrating the complete operation of the invention.

In the drawings, are legs that stand on the floor and support a horirz o ntal table or bed plate 16. A short powegishaft 17 projects from one side of the machine just below the bed plate and turns in bearings as shown. Fast and loose belt pulleys 18 or other driving means are mounted on the shaft 17 and also a gear wheel 19 meshing with two gear Wheels 20, 21 on parallel shafts 22, 23 that extend horizontally across the machine below the bed plate and impart movement to the various mechanisms for carrying out the functions of the machine.

Secured in an opening formed through the bed plate 16 is a vertical channel 24:, into the upper end of which packages are fed, one at a time, that are to have revenue stamps or labels placed thereon and pushed along said channel by a vertically reciprocating plunger 25 operated through means hereinafter described.

Within the channel 24: are frictional devices for retaining the packages in position while being labeled and for a suitable time thereafter by preventing them falling through said channel as soon as fed therein. The frictional devices may be in the form of spring actuated hinged. plates 26, or resilient fingers 27, or both, as shown, that bear on the sides ,of the packages with sufficient pressure to hold them in the channel against the force of gravity, but offer little resistance to the descending plunger 25..

, On two opposite sides of the channel, a

short distance below the upper end are adjustably secured spring folding fingers 28 that extend from the outside of the channel, each through an opening 29 upwardly into said channel. The upper ends of the fingers are straight and when free are separated a distance a little less than the width of a package so as to press on the sides of packages passing therebetween. The free upper extremities of the fingers 28 serve as sup- I ports for the label and are bent outwardly extending downwardly below said sides with their lower ends bent inward slightly to extend under the labels and prevent them falling through the open bottom of the magazine. These labels of any suitable width,

. are preferably of a length to pass around three sides of the package and lap at their ends over the fourth side a greater or lesser distance. Lugs 33, 34 support the ends of the labels and anadjustable end 35 is pro-' vided for the magazine to accommodate slight differences in length of the labels. Below the magazine is arranged a picker 36 for removing the labels one at a time from the magazine, and comprising an elongated hollow box 37 substantially as wide as a label and nearly as long wlth a perforated upper'surface communicating with the interior of the picker. The picker iscarried on the upper end of a tubular stem 38 connected atits lower end by a link 39 with a rocking lever 40 the opposite end of which lever is actuated by a cam 41 on the shaft 23 to cause the stem 38 to slide verticallyin a-bearing 42 and carry the picker 36 to and from the labels in the magazine. The bearmg 42 has a .passage 43 in its side in communlcation with a pipe 44 that extends to an exhaust device of any appropriate type, not shown, for creating a suction through the perforated upper surface of the picker 36. The hollow interior 37 of the picker is connected by hollow. arms 45 with the tubular stem 38. In one side of the stem near its lower end is a port 46 that connects the passage 43 to the hollow stem 38 when the picker is elevated into contact with the labels, causing the suction through said stemand picker to draw the lowermost label from the magazine against the upper perforated surface of the picker, so that as the latter descends the label is held securely in contact with its perforated surface until the picker has reached its lowest position, which movement carries the port 46 below the passage 43 and cuts off the suction, thus thereon will also be stationary, and the final the port 46 acts as a valve toout ofl' periodically the suction and release each label from the picker, and permitting it to be drawn into the channel 24 by means now to be described.

On the opposite side of the channel 24 and in line with the longitudinal axis of the magazine 31 is a horizontal guide 47 supported by brackets on the top of the table 16, and in which slides a bar 48 on the forward or inner end of which is a gripper 49 for drawing each label B into the channel 24 and leaving it supported on the folding fingers 28. The gripper comprises a lower fixed jaw 50 upon which is pivoted a movable jaw 51 having roughened contacting surfaces for securely grasping one end of the label. The opposite end of the movable jaw terminates in a stud 52 that, under certain conditions, is held above the bar 48 by a spring 53 that also holds the clamping surfaces of the jaws in contact, or in engagement with the label. Mounted to slide to a limited extent on the bar 48 is a rod 54 supported near its outer end by a fixed bracket 55 on the guide 47, and near its inner end by a movable bracket 56 on the bar 48. The inner end or end of the rod nearest the gripper 49 has a latch 57 adapted to engage over the stud 52 on the pivoted jaw 51 of the gripper when said gripper is opened and hold the same in open position. A spring 58 between the bracket 56 and latch 57 serves to slide the rod '54 and its latch'57 in one direction when said rod is free to move. Movement of the rod in the other direction is caused by anadjustable stop 59 on the other end'of the rod striking the bracket 55.

Adjustably mounted on'the inner end of the guide 47 are two cam plates 60, one on I each side of the bar 48 and-of such shape that when said bar is moved to the left, just before it completes its movement, studs or rollers 61 on the movable jaw 51 ofthe gripper engage the cam plates and depress the] end of said jaw provided with the lug 52, thus opening the gripper and carrying the -lug 52 below the bottom of the latch 57,

whereupon the latter will slide underthe influence of the spring 78 over the lug and 1 hold the j awsin open position. The reverse movement of the bar 48 in the direction to pick up a new label carries the gripper 49 toward the picker 36in open position, the

jaws remaining open so that the end of the 1 label supported on said picker will enter therebetween, and just before the comple t1on of th1s movement of the bar 48, the

memes stop 59 on the rod 54 strikes the fixed bracket 55 thereby holding said rod stationary while the bar completes its movement. The rod 59 being held from moving, the latch 57 movement of the bar will carry the lug 52 from beneath the latch letting the spring 53 close the jaws of the gripper 49 on the label. The bar 48 again moves in the opposite direction drawing the label over a reticulated plate 62 adjacent the end of the picker nearest the channel 24, the perforathe gripper under sufficient tension to keep said label thoroughly straight and prevent the same from curling, twisting or bending upward in any way or to contact with the adhesive applying device 65. A spring plate 62 projects from the suction plate 62 for a purpose to be described later on.

On the underside of the gripper bar 48 is a rack 66 which is driven by a spur gear 67 on a short shaft 68 mounted in bearings on the bed plate below the guide 47. smaller spur gear wheel 69 is also mounted on the shaft 68 and engages a vertical rack 70 that terminates at its lower end below the bed 16 in a slotted guide plate 71 through the slot in which the shaft 22 passes. On one side of the guide plate 71 is a pin or roller 7 2 that enters a cam groove 73 in a disk 74. The rotation of the cam disk 74 reciprocates the vertical rack 70, and through the gear wheels 69, 67, and the rack 66 on the bar 48, said bar with the gripper thereon is reciprocated to draw labels from the picker and leave them in the channel 24. Labels passing to the channel from the picker are first drawn beneath an adhesive applying device for coating or applying a strip of adhesive on one side of the label.

The adhesive applying device commounted to slide on the upper end of a bracket 79 bolted to the top of the bed plate 16. The plate 78 is carried on the upper end of a stem 80 slidable through a bearing in the bed plate, andhas afiixed on its lower end a slotted plate 81 through which passes the shaft 23, and which serves to guide the slotted plate. A cam 82 on the shaft 21 acts on a roller 83 on the plate 81 and raises the same, sliding the plate 78 on the bracket 79 and lifting the adhesive applying apparatus 65 to permit the gripper 49 to pass. These parts are drawn downward as the cam 82 rotates by means of a spring 84, and applies the adhesive. The adhesive applying roller 76 is positively driven from the shaft 23 by beveled gearing 85 and 86 on said shaft 23 and a hollow vertical shaft 87, in the upper end of which shaft a shaft 88 may slide but which rotates therewith carrying a beveled gear 89 that drives the similar gear 90 on one end of a short horizontal shaft 91 journaled in the fountain supporting plate 78, and carrying on its other end a spur gear 92 that meshes with a similar spur gear 93 on the shaft of the adhesiye ap lying roller 76.

he label B after being drawn into the channel 24 by the gripper 49 until its ends project outwardly through the openings 29 in the sides of said channel substantially equal distances, a package is pushed downwardly on said label which adheres to the bottom of the package, and'as the descends, it enters between the fol ing finers 28, pushing the label before it, said ngers turning the label against the sides of the package and rubbingthe adhesively coated sides of the label thereagainst.

The packages are delivered into the channel 24 by the following mechanism: Close against one side of the channel 24 and ex tending from its mouth indefinitely in a vertical direction is a chute 'or hopper 94 that receives the packages A to be stamped or labeled. The lowermost package is normally supported on side ledges 94" at the bottomof the. hopper. At the lower end of the hopperis a horizontally reciprocating pusher block 95 that engages the lowest package in the chute or hopper and pushes it into the upper end of the channel 24. The pusher block 95 slides in a vertically movable guide 96 which supports the. packages in the hopper when the block 95 is retracted.

The guide 96 is carried on the upper end of a stem 97 slidable in a bearing 98 affixed to the table 1.6, said stem projecting below the table and on its lower end is a fork 99 that straddles across shaft 100 driven by beveled gears 101, 102, from the shaft 22. Fastened on the cross shaft 100 is a cam 103 that engages a roller 104 on the fork 99 and with each rotation of the shaft raises the ackage stem 97 and guide 96 thereon. Securedon the same cross shaft 100 is another cam 105 that engages With and moves in a horizontal direction a bar 106 connected with one end of an upright rocking lever 107, fulcrumed between its ends at 108, and connected by forward to feed one of the packages into the channel, the packages above the lowermost package are temporarily supported on the top of the block. After the package has been fed into the channel, the guide 96 and the block descend until the lowermost package, then in the hopper, rests upon the ledges 94 In this way the packages remaining in the hopper descend without receiving any jar or shock.

7 After the package has entered the channel 24 the plunger 25 is drawn down to push said package into the channel past the label wrapping mechanism. The means employed for reciprocating the plunger include a cam on the shaft 22 arranged to move in one direction a lever 111 fulcrumed intermediate its ends and drawn in the other direction by a spring 111 the free end of which lever is connected by a link 112 with a vertical rod 113, slidable in an upright socket 114 affixed to the table. Secured on the upper end of the rod 113 is a horizontal arm 115 that extends toward the channel 24 and has attached to its free end the stem 116 of the plunger 25. A roller 117 projects from the end of arm 115 toward the hopper 94 and travels vertically in a channel plate 118 on the front of said hopper. By means of this guide roller, the plunger 25 is maintained in correct relation to the channel and lateral movement thereof prevented.

The plunger 25 as it descends, pushes before it not only the package about which a label is being placed, but all previously labeled ones held in the channel by the friction devices '26, 27. The lowermost package of those detained in the channel is, at each stroke of the plunger, pushed beyond the influence of the friction devices and drops by gravity through the channel to be delivered from the machine. At the same time, the package being labeled is pushed downward past the friction devices and between the spring folding fingers 28 until the top of the package is about level with the upper ends of said fingers. The plunger now pauses for a short while to hold the package while the extreme ends of the label that project above the package are folded over and sealed on the upper side thereof by secondary folders 119, near the folding fingers 28.

The secondary folders 119 comprise two rollers 120 each horizontally pivoted in the forked end of an arm 121 carried on a stud 122. The two studs 122 are each attached on and pro ect from one side of a slide 123,

neously, folding the ends of the label over 7.

thepackage and pressing them thereon to insure their adhesion. The plunger 25 is formed with a cavity 125 on each side for the rollers 120 to enter duringv this movement. The label being secured in place, the 3( rollers retreat and are then carried down to inoperative "position. The means for impartingthese. movements to the rollers in clude two cams 126,127, the former on the shaft 23, thelatter on shaft 22. A verti- 3:

cally swinging lever 128 below the table 16 is pivoted at one end in a bracket 129 and carries a roller 130 on its other end that is raised by the cam 126 .to lift the levr 128. A vertically sliding rod 131 is connected to the lever between its ends and passing through the table, is secured on the underside of the grooved guide 124. A bell crank lever 132 also below the table 16, is fulcrumed on a bracket 133. The short arm 134 of this lever is actuated by the cam 127 to move the long arm 135 in a vertical direction and raise and lower a wedge shaped block 136 adjacent the side of the grooved guide 124. A rod 137, connected to the lever arm 135, extends up through the table and is fastened to the wedge shaped block 136. Projecting from each slide 123 on the side opposite the stud 122 is a stem 138 on which is mounted a roller 139, the two rollers being held in contact with the oppositely inclined edges of the wedge block 126 by a coiled spring 140, the ends of which are fastenedto pins 141 in the outer ends of the slides 123. The lever 128 is lifted by the cam 126 and raises the grooved slide 124 and the folding rollers 120, the weight of these parts being sufficient to cause their descent. The downward movement of the arm 135 of the elbow lever 132 draws the wedge-shaped block 136in the same direc: tion and the rollers 139, following the inclined edges of this block .under the tension of the spring 140, the slide plates withthe folding rollers 120 move inwardly. The reverse movement, of the elbow lever raises the wedge block and separates the slide plates and folding rollers thereon. The cams 126, 127 are so timed that the upward movement and the inward movement of the folding 125 end of the label is brought into contact with the reticulated plate .62 and held against the same by suction. The gripper 49 now advances with the jaws open, which, passing above and below the extreme end of the label that projects beyond the suction plate 62, are closed on said label by the stoppage of the latch 57 when the stop on the latch rod 54 strikes the fixed bracket 55. The gripper is now retracted and draws the label through the channel 24, and when centered upon the folding fingers 28 the cam plates 60 open the jaws and release the label. While the label is being drawn toward the channel it passes beneath the adhesive applying device that has been lowered and a strip or line of gum is applied by the roller 76 upon the upper side of the label which is kept straight and taut by the suction through the reticulated plate 62. The spring plate 62 that projects from the plate 62 has its free end in position to maintain the label against the roller 76. With the label in position over the folding fingers, a package is placed thereover by the pusher block 95, moved by the cam 105 through the connections described, to push the bottom package A in the hopper 94, supported on the raised pusher block guide 96, into the channel. The plunger descends after this and carries the package and label between the folding fingers, turning said label upward against the sides of the package. The plunger pauses momentarily after the completion of its downward stroke while the guide plate with the slides 123 and folding rollers 120 rise to a lgel with the top of the package. The wedge shaped block 136 then descends and the spring 140 draws the slides together, to carry the folding rollers over the top of the package and turn thereover the projecting ends of the label.

What I claim is I? 1. In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices, of a label magazine, suction means operating to Withdraw the labels bodily one at a time from the bottom magazine, means for transferring c2155 label from the suction means to the folding devices, means for applying an adhesive to the label while being transferred, and means for holding said label under tension during the application of the adhesive.

2. In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices, of a label magazine, suction means operating to Withdraw the labels bodily one at a time from the bottom of said magazine, a gripper for transferring each label from the suction means to the folding devices, means for ap-' plying an adhesive to the label while being transferred, and suction means for holding said label under tension during the application of the adhesive.

3. In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices, of a label magazine, a suction picker operating to withdraw the labels bodily one at a time from the bottom of said magazine, a gripper for transferring each label from the picker to the folding devices, means for applying an adhesive to the label while being transferred, and suctions means for holding said labels under tension during the application of the adhesive.

4. In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices, of a label magazine, a reciprocating suction picker operating to withdraw the labels bodily one at a time from said magazine, means depending on the movement of said picker for controlling the suction therethrough, a gripper for transferring each label from the picker to the folding devices, means for applying adhesive to the label while being transferred, and suction means for holding said label under tensionduring application of the adhesive.

5. A package labeling machine embodying a channel for receiving packages to be labeled, label-folding means in said channel,

means at the upper end of the channel for supporting a package, means for moving a package laterally to said supporting means, means for feeding a label toward and depositing it transversely across the channel below the "supported package, a plunger for advancing the package in the channel in cooperative relation with the label-folding means, a receptacle for an adhesive arranged adjacent the path of movement of the labelfeeding means, an adhesive applying dev ce in cooperative relation with the receptacle for applying an adhesive to the label as it moves toward the channel, and means operating in timed relation with the movements of the label-feeding means for'bodily moving the receptacle and its applying devlce into and out of the path of movement of the label-feeding means to permit the latter-to pass in its label-feeding movements.

6. In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices, of a label magazine comprising a box open at its top and bottom to contain a stack of labels, lugs projecting into said box at its bottom to support the extreme ends of said label stack, and spring fingers also on the bottom of said box to sustain the label stack at-its sides, a suction picker for bodily withdrawing labels one at a time from the bottom of said magazine, and means other than the suction picker for transferring each label from the picker to the folding devices.

7. In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices, of a label magazine, a suction picker mounted to reciprocate to and from the bottom of said magazine toremove labels therefrom one at a time, said picker comprising a hollow chamber carried on a tubular stem and provided with a reticulated top plate, said stem having a port therein operating as a valve to cut off periodically the suction through the picker as it reciprocates to and from the magazine, means for transferring each label to the folding means and from the picker to the folding devices, means for folding the-labels around packages, and means for applying an adhesive to the label while being transferred.

8 In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices, of a label -magazine, a reciprocating suction picker for withdrawing labels one at a time from said magazine, a port in said picker controlled by the reciprocation thereof for opening and closing the suction therethrough, means for transferring each label from said picker to the folding devices, means for applying an adhesive to the label while being transferred, and a suction chamber havin a reticulated top plate for holding the la els under tension during application of the adhesive.

9. In a package labeling machine, the combination with label folding devices includmg a pair of substantially parallel spaced fingers, of a label magazine, pneumatic means for bodily withdrawing labels one at a time from the bottom ofsaid magazine, means for transferring each label from the withdrawing means to the folding means and placing it upon the ends of said fingers, an adhesive applying device for the labels operating to apply the adhesive to the label while it is passing from the pneumatic means toward the package, a package feed, and means for forcing a package and a label between said fingers to fold the label over opposite sides of the package.

In a package labeling machine, the combination with a channel, and a pair of spaced fingers in said channel, of a label magazine, suction means for withdrawing labels bodily one at a time from the bottom of said magazine, a gripper for transferring each labelfrom the suction means placing it upon the ends of sald fingers, an adhesive apply- 111% device for the labels operating to apply ad eslve to the label during transfer, and

means for forcing a package and a label between said fingers to fold said label over opposite sides of the package.

11. In a packing labeling machine, the

combination with a channel, a pair of spaced folding fingers in said channel, and

a second pair of folders adapted to enter said channel, a label magazine, suction means for withdrawinglabels one at a time from the bottom of said magazine, a gripper for transferring each label from the withdrawing means into the channel and placing it upon the ends of said fingers, an adhesive applying device for the labels, means for feeding packages singly into the channel above the label, and a plunger for forcing a package and a label between said fingers and second folders to fold the label entirely around said package.

13. In a package labeling machine, the combination with a channel, and folding devices operative within said channel, of means for feeding labels one at a time to said folding devices, means for feeding packages singly into said channel above the labels, a plunger for forcing a package and a label a between the folding devices, and friction means in said channel for supporting the packages therein.

14. In a package wrapping machine, the combination with a channel, and label folding devices operative therein, of a label magazine, means for withdrawing labels one at a time from said magazine, means for transferring labels from the withdrawing means to the folding devices, said means comprising a pair of grippin jaws on a reciprocating slide, a trip ro mounted upon said slide and having a limited longltudinal movement, and fixed means to actuate said rod to close and open said jaws that it may grasp and release a label, means for feedmg packages to said channel, and a plungerfor forcing the package and the label through said folding devices.

15. In a package wrapping machine, the combination with a channel, and label fold ing devices operative therein, of a label magazine, means for withdrawing labels one at a time from said magazine, means for transferring labels from the withdrawing means tothe folding means, said means comprising a pair of gripper jaws on a reciprocating slide, a trip rod mounted upon said slide and having a limited longitudinal movement, a stop on one end of said rod, a latch to hold said 7 jaws open on the other end, a fixed abutment to engage said stop for releasing said jaws and a cam plate to act directly on one of said jaws, open the same and permit said latch to slip thereover, means for feeding packages to said channel, and a plunger for forcing the package and the label through said folding devices.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOAQUIN ALEMANY.

Witnesses:

MIGUEL MONTEJO, RAoUL F. WASHINGTON. 

